Automatic farm gate



April 22g-1.952 k F @UMP 2,593,876

AUTOMATIC FARM GATE Filed Oct, 3l, 1949 I5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTD RN EYS April 22, 1952 G, F. GUMP AUTOMATIC FARM GATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001,. 5l, 1949 ATTDRN EYS pril 22, 1952 G, F, GUMP 2,593,876

AUTOMATIC FARM GATE Filed OCT,- 51, 1949 3 Sheetssheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

eorge fump ATTCI R N EYS Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

AUTOMATIC `FARM GATE George F. Gump, Walla Walla, Wash.

Application October 31, 1949, Serial No. 124,653 4 Claims. (Cl. 39--29) This invention relates to a gate, and more particularly to a gate that is actuated by a vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a gate construction which is adapted to be operated by the movement of a vehicle, such as an automobile, whereby the gate can be opened and closed without the necessity of having an occupant of the vehicle alight therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate which has connected thereto a mechanisin for automatically opening and closing the gate so that a vehicle can pass along a road that is normally closed by the gate without requiring the vehicle occupant to alight from the vehicle, there being a means for maintaining the gate locked in its opened and closed positions so as to prevent accidental swinging movement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate construction which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the pair of coacting gates and their operating mechanism, the gates being in closed position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the gates in their opened position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view with the parts in the position of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View, but with the parts in the position of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the gates, with parts broken away and in section, showing the mechanismfor locking the gates in their closed position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through the gates, the gates being in closed position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational view showing the lock for maintaining the gates in their closed position; 1 Y

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational vieW showing one of the combined stop posts and locks for maintaining the gates in their open position;

Figures 9 and 10 are schematic views illustrating the movement of the cables and V- shaped body member.,

.Referring in; detail tothe drawings, there shown a, pair of spaced parallel, vertically-dis# zontally-disposed portion 26 of the gate 2|.

posed standards 26 each of which has its lower end embedded in the ground. A gate 2| is pivotally supported by each of the standards 20. and the pair of gates 2| are mounted for opening and closing movements or swinging movements about a vertical axis.

Each of the gates 2| has the same construction, and each comprises or includes a vertically-dispovsed, hollow, tubular portion 22 and a second vertically-disposed portion 23. For pivotally supporting the gates 2|, a plurality of eye bolts 24` rotatably receive the vertical portions 23, and suitable nuts 23 are arranged in threaded engagement with the ends of the bolts 24 so as to maintain the parts in assembled rela-` tion. Each of the gates 2| further includes a lower, horizontally-disposed portion 26 which the upper end of the plunger 21, the cables 30 and 3| being trained over a pulley 29 that is rotatably mounted in the vertical portion. 22. The'z cables or cords 30 and 3| slidably project through a guide ring 32 that is secured to the upper surface of the horizontal portion 26, and the ends of the cables 30 and 3| are arranged in engagement with the free ends of a V-shaped body member 33. A suitable securing element, such as the bolt-and-nut assembly 34, serves to con nect the V-shaped body member 33 to the hori- It is to be noted that each of the gates 2| has one of the V-shaped bodyT members 33 connected thereto.

The other end of the cable 3| is connected to one end of a coil spring 35, while the other end of the coil spring 35 is connected to a pin 3E which is secured to a shift rod 31. Similarly, the other cable or cord 3U is connected to a coil spring 35 which in turn is arranged in engagement with a pin 36 that is also secured to the shift rod 31. It will be seen that there are a pair of the shift rods 31, the shift rods 31 being arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other lying Iina horizontal plane. Each of the shift rods 31 3 38 and 39 which remain immobile while the rods 31 are shifted therethrough.

For causing movement of the shift rods 31, a pair of trip bars and lll are provided, the trip bars lill and 4l arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other.

Projecting from the trip bar ll and secured thereto is a pair of plates 42 and 43 which are adapted to be engaged, one at a time, by the wheels of avehicle, so as to rotate the trip bar 4i). The plates l2 and S3 are arranged at right angles with respect to each other. The trip rod 40 is rotatably supported by bearings 44, and a crank d5 is secured to each end of the trip bar 0. A pin At pivotally connects each of the cranks to a link i1, and a pin 48 pivotallyv connectsV each of the links d1 to the complemental shift rod 31. Thus, rotation of the trip bar dl), which is caused by the wheels of the vehicle engaging one if of the plates l2 or 43, results in the rod 31 being shifted, thereby opening and closing the gates 2lV as later described in this application. A suitable'recess 139 is arranged in the ground adjacent each end of the shift rods 31 so as to provide sufilcient clearance or room for ie links 1li and cranks c5 to move in.

.The other trip bar all is also provided with a pair of plates 5d and 5i which are. arranged at.

right anglesgwith respect to each other and 'the plates 5t and 5i are adapted to be engaged oy one of the wheels of a vehicle for rotating the trip bar 4l. The trip bar ii "so provided with the cranks '35 which are pivotally connected to the links 111, the links lil' being pivotally connected to the shift rods 31, as previously described.

A lock is provided for selectively maintaining the pair of gates 2i in their closed position, as.

shownv in Figure l, whereby accidental opening or swinging movement of the gates 2| will be prevented. The lock is the numeral 52, is interposed between the pair of vertically-disposed standards Eil. The lock 52 includes a bracket 53 that comprises a vertically-disposedleg Ell and a horizontally-disposed leg 55. IThe horizontally-disposed leg 55' is anchored to a concrete block 55 which may be embedded in the ground by suitable bolt-and-nut assemblies 5l, Figure An arm 5t is pivotally connected to the horizontal leg 55 by a hinge 59',

and the arm 58 and the leg 54 define therebetween a recess for receiving therein the plungers 21 so that the gates will not accidentally swing open. An inclined guideway 6G is secured to the upper end of the leg 513, the guideway t@ serving to guide the plunger-s 2i', as when the gates are being swung to their closed position. Suitable boltand-nut assemblies G l connect the arm 58-to the-leg 54, the bolt 5l being slidably arranged in engagement with the arm 5S and leg 54. A suitable coil spring 62 is circumposed on each of the bolts Si, whereby a shock absorber is provided to'prevent the gates 2l from jarring and possibly damaging the lock 52, as when the gates are swung to their closed position.

There is also provided a mechanism for limit-- ing outward swinging movement of the gates 2l,-

braces 6B aresecured to and supportan inclined designated generally by f shelf 65. The shelf has its upper end spaced from the post |64 so as to denne a recess therebetween for receiving therein the spring-pressed plungers 21, whereby the gates will be held in open position until the plungers 21 are retracted into the vertical portion 22 of the gate 2l. It will be seen that one of the mechanisms 63 is provided for each of the gates 4l.

In use, the gates are normally closed, as shown in Figure l. Then, when a vehicle, such as an automobile, is to pass through the gates 2 l, there is provided a means for automatically opening the gates without the necessity of having an occupant of the vehicle alight from the vehicle. Thus, if a vehicle is approaching the closed gates from the right of Figure l, the vehicle is steered so that one of its wheels strikes or engages the plate ditto thereby rotate the trip rods 40 in a counterclockwise direction. This rotation of the trip rod El causes the pair of cranks 'l5 on its end to swing in a counterclockwse direction, and since the cranks t5 are connected to the shift ro'ds13fl` by links 41, the shift rods will be slid or moved' tothe position shown in Figuresv 2 and 4. ThisA movement of the shift rods 31 in the bearings `Eiland 3s causes tension to be applied to the `cables 3l).

As the cables 3i) are pulled by the shift rods 31, the4 plungers 21 will first be upwardly retracted into the lower open ends of the vertical portions 22 o'f the gates 2l. Thus, the plungers 21 will be lifted suiciently so as to clear the upper ends of the legs 5d. Then, continued movement of the shift rods 31 and the cables 3o causes the pair of gates 2l' to be swung open t'o the position shown in Figures 2 and 4.

Outward swinging movement of the gates 2l is limited by the posts 64, since the gates will contact these posts. Also, when the gates 2l reach their open position, the springs 28 will urge the plunger 21 into the space between the shelf 65y and the posts 64 so that the gates will be retained or maintained in their open position. After the vehicle passes between the open gates 2l, the vehicle is steered so that one of its wheels engages the plates 50 on the trip rods 4l, thereby rotating the trip rod 6l in a countcrclockwise direction. By means of the previously-described structure, this counterclockwise rotation of trip rod 4| will cause the shift rods 31 to move from the position of Figures 2 and 4.- to the position shown in Figuresfl and 3. This latter movement of the shift rods-31 causes tension to be applied to cables 3|, whereby the plungers 21 will initially be retracted out of engagement with the mechanism 63, and then the gates will swing to their closed position where they will automatically become locked. Similarly, a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction will serve to automatically open andV close the gates 2l to permit passage therebetween of a vehicle without the necessity Ilower ends supported in the ground, a gate pivotally supported by each of said standards and mounted for swinging movement about a vertical axis, each of said gates including a vertical tubular portion and a hollow horizontally-disposed portion secured to said vertical portion, a. V-

5 shaped body member supported on each of said horizontally-disposed portions, a lock arranged intermediate said pair of standards, a springpressed plunger slidably arranged in the lower end of each of the vertical portions of each of said gates, said plunger being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said lock for selectively maintaining said gates in closed position, a pair of cables connected to said body member and each having an end connected to f said plungers, a pair of spaced paralle1 horizontally-disposed shift rods arranged on opposite sides of said standards, a pair of coil springs each having an end connected to each of said shift rods and their other ends connected to said cables, a pair of spaced parallel horizontally-disposed trip bars extending between the ends of said shift rods, a pair of plates arranged at right angles with respect to each other and secured to each of said trip bars and adapted to be engaged by a vehicle wheel, and means pivotally connecting said trip bars to said shift rods.

2. In combination, a pair of spaced parallel vertically-disposed standards each having their lower ends supported in the ground, a gate pivotally supported by each of said standards and mounted for swinging movement about a vertical axis, each of said gates including a vertical tubular portion and a hollow horizontally-disposed portion secured to said vertical portion, a V- shaped body member supported on each of said horizontally-disposed portions, a lock arranged intermediate said pair of standards, a springpressed plunger slidably arranged in the lower end of each vertical portion of each of said gates, said plungers being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said lock for selectively maintaining said gates in closed position, a pair of cables connected to said body member and each having an end connected to said plungers, a pair of spaced parallel horizontally-disposed shift rods arranged on opposite sides of said standards, a pair of coil springs each having an end connected to each of said shift rods and their other end connected to said cables, a pair of spaced parallel horizontally-disposed trip bars extending between the ends of said shift rods, a

pair of plates arranged at right angles with respect to each other and secured to each of said trip bars and adapted to be engaged by a vehicle wheel, and means pivotally connecting said trip bars to said shift rods, said last-named means comprising a crank connected to each end of each of said trip bars, and a link pivotally connecting said cranks to the cornplemental ends o1. said shift rods.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein said lock includes a bracket provided with a horizontally-disposed leg and a verticallydisposed leg, an inclined guideway secured to the upper end oi the vertically-disposed leg of said bracket, an arm pivotally connected to the horizontally-disposed leg of said bracket and coacting with said vertically-disposed leg to define a recess for receiving therein the spring-pressed plungers, bolts extending between said arm and vertically disposed leg, and coil springs circurnposed on said bolts.

4. The apparatus as described in clam 2, and further including a mechanism for limiting opening swinging movement of said gates and for coacting with said plungers to selectively maintain said gates in their open position, said mechanism embodying a vertically disposed post having its lower end secured in the ground, and a shelf coacting with said post to deiine a recess ifor receiving said spring pressed plungers.

GEORGE F. GUMP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are o' record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 72,657 Mawbey Dec. 24, 1867 339,459 Peneld Apr. 6, 1886 978,245 Warden Dec. 13, 1910 1,292,248 Cairns Jan. 21, 1919 1,297,949 Werezak Mar. 18, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 59,384 Sweden Aug. 18, 1925 

